— Milwaukee’s local economy “took a step back” in May after positive momentum was seen in April, according to the latest Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce report.
Just seven of the 23 economic factors MMAC tracks saw year-over-year improvement in May, compared to 10 positive indicators in April. And only three of the region’s 10 key sectors added jobs over the year in May, as government jobs grew 2.6% and construction, mining and natural resources employment grew 1.9%.
Over the same period, six of Milwaukee’s major industries lost jobs over the year, with the largest decline seen in information, with a 6.7% drop. Professional and business services lost 3.9% of its jobs over the year, MMAC found.
And manufacturing jobs were down 0.8% over the year, though that’s down from April’s decrease of 1.1% and the year-to-date decline of 1.2% compared to the first five months of the prior year.
“Job indicators continue to be flat, with modest falls in nonfarm jobs and small increases in the metro area unemployment rate,” MMAC Vice President of Economic Research Bret Mayborne said in a statement. “Strength was more evident in local construction, housing and real estate indicators.”
Over the first five months of this year, the overall employment trend for metro Milwaukee “has been largely stagnant,” MMAC says. Nonfarm employment averaged 858,300 in May, marking a 0.4% decline over the year. That decrease is above the 0.2% decline from April, but remains slightly lower than the average decrease so far this year, 0.6%.
As a result of the recent job losses, the region’s seasonally unadjusted employment rate rose 0.2 percentage points over the year to reach 3.4%, the report shows. That’s above the state’s unadjusted rate of 3% for the month, according to the latest DWD release, but remains below the national rate of 3.7%.
Meanwhile, new unemployment compensation claims in the area rose 5.2% over the year, though that’s below the 9.2% increase seen in April.
See the report.
— The latest episode of “WisBusiness.com: the Show” features Dervis Gursoy of Spraycision, who won the advanced manufacturing category of this year’s Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest.
Gursoy, who founded Spraycision, has developed a sensor system used in orchard spraying applications. The technology can automatically target tree canopies using lasers to avoid wasted water and chemicals.
“For the last couple decades, the chemical prices have gone up so dramatically, and water [has] started becoming a bigger and bigger issue,” Gursoy said.
He discusses the company’s early traction with customers, including apple growers and a fruit farm in Wisconsin, as well as some challenges related to developing a high-tech product. He notes it “requires time and effort, and you need someone who’s very patient with you in the development process.”
The conversation also highlights Gursoy’s experience in the business plan contest, which helped him build on his background in engineering and better understand the rigors of entrepreneurship.
“That’s the first time where I see, design and a complete product is nothing,” he said. “You’ve just started. So [the] business plan contest kind of pushed me through, go reach your customers … Who are your customers? Can you segment them?”
He said it was “an amazing experience,” and applauded the feedback he received from mentors as part of the competition.
Watch the show and see more episodes.
— Marshfield Clinic Health System and South Dakota-based Sanford Health have announced plans to merge by the end of the year, which would create a combined health system with nearly 56,000 employees.
The two health systems say they’ve signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding to create an integrated organization serving the rural Midwest. Together, they would have 56 hospitals, 4,300 providers, two integrated health plans and multiple specialty pharmacies, according to the release.
Dr. Brian Hoerneman, interim CEO of MCHS, says merging with Sanford Health “presents an incredible opportunity” for the organizations to create the country’s top rural health system. Sanford Health says it’s currently the largest U.S. rural health system.
“Together, we will ensure sustainable access to exceptional care for our communities for years to come,” Hoerneman said in a statement. “With a shared mission to serve, a mutual emphasis on research and education, and a strong tradition of physician leadership, Sanford Health is the ideal partner for this endeavor.”
The proposed merger has a number of stated goals, including improving patient outcomes through population health efforts and other programs, leveraging technologies such as AI and virtual care, expanding research by boosting access to nearly 1,000 active clinical trials and studies, strengthening graduate medical education programs and more.
Once finalized, the merged organization would be named Sanford Health and headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. MCHS would be a region within Sanford Health, headed up by regional leadership based at its medical campus in Marshfield. It would also include a regional board of directors and physician executive council.
Sanford Health President and CEO Bill Gassen would be the president and CEO of the combined system, and Hoerneman would be president and CEO of the MCHS region.
The release notes “there are no immediate changes” for employees or patients.
See the release.
— EnsoData has acquired new diagnostic technology assets from an Arizona business called Resonea, the Madison-based company announced.
Through the acquisition, EnsoData has added two new channels to its sleep monitoring platform: an “acoustic flow” channel, and a microphone channel, enabling new ways to assess patients’ breathing while asleep.
Using a smartphone app, the company can record the sound of the user’s breath during sleep and conduct a “breath-by-breath acoustic analysis” of how air is flowing, as well as snoring. This information is used to identify sleep apnea and other disorders, according to the release.
EnsoData notes about 29 million Americans have sleep apnea, and more than 80% of that population hasn’t been diagnosed.
Company CEO Justin Mortara says the new technologies will help “expand the clinical data available for the health systems” as well as doctors conducting sleep testing. They’ll be commercially available in the United States this year, the release shows.
“This is another step toward simplifying access to sleep care, helping to get more patients with sleep disorders diagnosed and ultimately connected with therapy,” Mortara said in a statement.
Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
See the release.
For more of the most relevant health care news, reports on groundbreaking research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com.
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— Ironworkers Local 8 is holding an event Sunday to commemorate three workers who died in a crane collapse during the construction of Miller Park in Milwaukee.
The Irons Sharpens Iron Remembrance Ceremony, recognizing the lives of Jeffrey Wischer, William DeGrave and Jerome Starr, is being held at American Family Field, the new name for the baseball stadium. The ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m.
It will feature remarks from the Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades Council President Dan Bukiewicz, former Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist, community leaders and others.
See more event details.
TOP STORIES
UW-Madison researchers find high PFAS levels in natural foam on Wisconsin lakes, rivers
RNC business; bloom or bust? Local businesses prepare one week out
Wisconsin’s cannabis industry leafs out with new, legal products
TOPICS
AGRIBUSINESS
– WI dairy farmers host free community events
– Wisconsin farm group offers help hiring foreign workers amid labor shortage
CONSTRUCTION
– Miron awarded $21M bid for Madison men’s shelter
ECONOMY
– Fears of China-owned farmland in Wisconsin and US are exaggerated, new analysis suggests
– Apartment rents in Milwaukee area among the nation’s fastest-rising
ENVIRONMENT
– Court rulings risk Wisconsin’s air and water protections, scholar says
FOOD & BEVERAGE
– Wisconsin Big Boy in Sussex will close July 14, reopen in Wisconsin Dells this fall
– Historic Dawn Manor in Wisconsin Dells area to open as restaurant, speakeasy next spring
– Longtime Brookfield steakhouse Jake’s Restaurant faces foreclosure sale
– Pizza chain with 11 Wisconsin locations eyes bankruptcy filing
HEALTH CARE
– Marshfield Clinic system, Sanford Health announce plans to combine
– Wisconsin health experts say ACA, health care tax credits are here to stay
INSURANCE
– Trusted Fraternal Life plans second merger this year
LEGAL
– Act 10 faces another legal challenge. This time, it might stick.
MANAGEMENT
– Advocate Health appoints new president of its national health equity center
MANUFACTURING
– AEM hosts manufacturing policy panel during RNC
MEDIA
– No rest for Fox News anchors Bill Hemmer, Dana Perino during Milwaukee RNC
REAL ESTATE
– Long-planned condo project near Summerfest could finally be proceeding
– Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Common Council clash over public housing
– Milwaukee-area real estate executives say office conversions a challenge
SPORTS
– Madison Mallards shortstop enjoys fans, players for two teams
PRESS RELEASES
See these and other press releases
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